Show ContentsO'Mally History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname O'Mally originally appeared in Gaelic as "O Maille."

Early Origins of the O'Mally family

The surname O'Mally was first found in County Mayo (Irish: Maigh Eo) located on the West coast of the Republic of Ireland in the province of Connacht, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

"The O'Malley's were celebrated Chiefs whose territory comprised the present Baronies of Murrisk and Burrishoole in the County Mayo. The Malleys and O'Malleys are now located principally in the two baronies named, and in that of Erris, in County Mayo. " 1

Early History of the O'Mally family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Mally research. Another 44 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1503, 1603, 1760, 1843 and 1854 are included under the topic Early O'Mally History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Mally Spelling Variations

A name was often recorded during the Middle Ages under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer because literacy was rare there was no real push to clearly define any of the languages found in the British Isles at that time. Variations found of the name O'Mally include Malley, Mallay, Mally, O'Mally, Mailley, O'Malley, O'Mailey, Mailey, Maley, Mealey, Mealley, Meally and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Mally family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Mally Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the O'Mally family

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name O'Mally to North America: Anthony Mally who settled in Philadelphia in 1854; Michael, William, Anthony, Hugh, John, Patrick, and Thomas Malley, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.


Contemporary Notables of the name O'Mally (post 1700) +

  • Carlton M. O'Mally Jr., American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1979-82 2


  1. Matheson, Robert E., Special Report on Surnames in Ireland with Notes as to Numeric Strength, Derivation, Ethnology, and Distribution. Dublin: Alexander Thom & Co., 1894. Print
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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